Recent insights into chitosan-derived adsorbents for efficient treatment of dye-polluted wastewater: a review, bibliometric analysis, challenges and future prospects

crosslinking, grafting, and mixing with other materials in order to improve their adsorption capacity, stability in acidic condition, and reusability. A bibliometric analysis on chitosan-based adsorbent was discussed to better understand its evolution in the treatment of dye wastewater from year of 2000 to 2025. The finding revealed a rapid increase in annual publications, with China emerging as the most productive country with notable fund from National Natural Science Foundation of China. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules recording the highest number of publications during the study period, followed by Desalination and Water Treatment, Carbohydrate Polymers, Chemical Engineering Journal and Journal of Hazardous Materials. The most critical thematic areas on this topic are sustainable material development and surface modification (green cluster), dye adsorption optimization (red cluster), mechanistic studies on dye adsorption (blue cluster), and ion pollutants remediation (yellow). The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive discussion of recent developments in chitosan-based adsorbents for dye wastewater treatment, combined with the integration of bibliometric analysis and critical evaluation of adsorption mechanisms and material modification strategies, thereby providing a holistic and up-to-date (2000-2025) perspective that bridges research trends with practical performance limitations and future research directions. By consolidating current research progress and identifying unresolved challenges, this work provides a valuable reference for advancing eco-friendly adsorbent technologies in wastewater treatment.